All Web Developers Fail … Here’s How to Recover

Whether you are an experienced web developer or relatively new to the field, at times, you are going to fail. Mistakes happen, but the results of those errors can be incredibly impactful. A misstep is often stressful, but panicking when one occurs can cloud your thinking, increasing your chances of making the situation worse. Instead of allowing that to happen, here’s how to recover when you make an error as a web developer.

Stop and Breathe

When your code suddenly starts throwing errors or takes down a substantial portion of the website, it’s easy to enter meltdown mode. But, before you let the crisis overwhelm you, it’s important to take a step back and breathe. This gives you a chance to re-center before you proceed, while allowing you an opportunity to realize that the mistake isn’t the end of the world.

Enter Decoding Mode

Now that you know a problem has occurred, you need to analyze the situation and identify the problem. Typically, this is the hardest part of many web developer’s jobs, as the source of the issue isn’t always obvious.

Whether you use debugging software or a more manual approach, it is important to take your time. If large segments of the code were written without being tested throughout the process, you could have a lot of information to comb through, so staying calm and proceeding methodically is crucial.

Additionally, you have to realize the error might not be in code you’ve written. Many web development projects combine the efforts of multiple developers, so the mistake could be located in someone else’s work. This means you have to review more than just your code to make sure you consider all the potential sources of the problem.

Talk to Your Co-workers

Some professionals are more prone to make certain kinds of errors than others, and communicating with each other can help you all identify patterns that may allow you to find the mistake faster. So, if you are trying to correct an issue, getting your teammates involved can speed up the process. Plus, it makes damage control efforts easier as more people are working toward the solution.

In some cases, having another set of eyes on the problem can also help, as you may overlook mistakes in your own code that others may spot with greater ease. Additionally, they may even be able to reassure you that the issue isn’t actually that bad, making it simpler to move forward.

Learn from the Mistake

Once you spot the bug, you are actually presented with a great learning opportunity. Determine what went wrong along the way and use that information to help you avoid similar errors in the future. With time, you’ll become a more capable web developer and will be able to identify mistakes more quickly, allowing you to up your skills and become more proficient.

If you are looking for a new web development position, the team at The Armada Group can connect you with leading employers. Contact us to speak with one of our skilled recruiters today.